The site in Hollister, Calif., on which the Superior Court for San Benito County was built is tight. Project architect SmithGroupJJR expanded the sense of openness in the 41,500-sf building’s interior space by borrowing visual interest from its exterior exposures. All public circulation and staff corridors and ramps have direct views onto outdoor areas, which include a plaza and roof rock gardens. The technique is based on a concept used in traditional Japanese gardens. Photo: Bruce Damonte, courtesy SmithGroupJJR

Bonds issued to build or renovate 44 courthouses in California helped pay for the $29.4 million Superior Court for San Benito County, which opened in 2014. The exterior is distinguished by a cantilevered patterned canopy. Photo: Bruce Damonte, courtesy SmithGroupJJR